Clare's Second Funeral

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Ann Eagles"
To: <ridlydidly>
Subject: Clare's Second Funeral
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:41:00 +0100

Hi Rosee

I just wanted to tell you about Clare's '2nd' funeral for the blog.

Her last wishes to us were that she be cremated, then her ashes put with my parents grave in Liverpool as she loved my Mum and Dad, and her third request was we take some out to Hong Kong and Bali to scatter on her favourite beaches.

On August 18th, we went to Liverpool for the internment. It was typical funeral weather, dark brooding skies and pouring with rain. The church St Peters in Woolton, is famous for the place that Paul MacCartney and John Lennon first met in 1957, and Eleanor Rigby's grave is close to my parents in the graveyard.

About fifty people came, which surprised me as I was expecting about thirty or so, but as always, Clare's life had touched so many people, and people who couldn't make it to London for the first came to this.

I wasn't sure what to expect - I've never done this before. The vicar took us into a back room joining the church-I didn't want a full blown church service- so he'd put out chairs and a map of the world next to a candle on a small altar, on which we also put a picture of Clare and her little casket of ashes.

I had written to him to tell him about Clare's life - so he read it out and also read a psalm - then Syd, Clare's 'father' read another piece - about how, in the six months since her death, we miss her more and more. It doesn't get any better in time, only worse.

I then told the little story about years ago, Clare told me she wanted to be buried with Nana & Grandad in Woolton, I said I wanted to be cremated and my ashes scattered - about six months later I told her that I changed my mind, and I wanted to be buried with my parents in Woolton - as seeing that I would die before her, I'd be the one to go into the grave next (we thought mistakenly that there were 3 places for burial, where as there are only 2). She was so annoyed,'you can't do that, I'm going in with Nana and Grandad' she said................so my lovely Clare, you've won!!

We then played her music again as we did the first time, and walked to the grave, where the vicar said a short blessing and put her little casket in the grave, with her Nana & Grandad at last.

There were so many flowers - beautiful - we then walked down the hill to a local restaurant for the 'wake' and so had our final drink with Clare.

The day went off very well - I think she would have enjoyed it and approved - lots of family and friends , lots of good food and drink.

So the next leg will be Hong Kong , we leave to go on November 15, November 21st to Bali.

Will keep you updated

love

Clare's Mum Ann

Track Listing for Music CD at Clare's Funeral

From: Julie Officer
Date: 04-Feb-2007 19:10
Subject: Re: Clare Photos
To: Rosemary Ufot Laurence

1. Clair - Gillbert O'sullivan.
2. Sweet Child Of Mine - Guns N Roses
3. Sara - Fleetwood Mac
4. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
5. Catch The Rainbow - Rainbow
6. Chan Chan - Buena Vista Social Club
7. How You Remind Me - Nickelback
8. The Heart Asks Pleasure First - Theme Tune From The Piano
9. Love Is A Many Splendored thing - Matt Monro
10. Save a Prayer - Duran Duran
11. I'm Walking Away - Craig David
12. Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens

Those who took the stage at Clare's Funeral

From: Julie Off!cer
Date: 04-Feb-2007 15:15
Subject: RE: Transcripts of Clare's Funeral
To: ridlydidly

Hi Rosee"

"From what I remember, the people who talked on Thurs were (and not in order) -

Syd
Bob
Margaret and Ernie Turkington
John, (friend of her parents....")
Kitty
Pete Badcock
Joanne Fulham (who's wedding we went to in Dublin)
The Obudsman
Work colleagues
After Adoption
Liverpool family/friends"
Anne
Julie
Rosee

I can't think who else. Some of it is such a blur.

Jo Fulham's Reading at Clare's Funeral

From: Jo Fulham
Date: 06-Feb-2007 12:02
Subject: FW: Transcripts of Clare's Funeral
To: ridlydidly
Cc: "Procter, Martin Mr"

Dear Rosee

We met at Clare's funeral last Thursday. How are you? Hope you don't mind but Julie emailed me your email and address. Unfortunately I never had a speech prepared but it went along the lines of:

I met Clare at Gateacre Comprehensive, in Liverpool, 20 plus years ago She was wild! She was mad! She made me laugh. We used to sit in needlework class and while we were sewing our aprons we used to dream of John Taylor and Simon Le Bon landing on the school field and taking us away for a night of passion...

It's so hard to believe that it was only 4 weeks ago (30 Dec) that she was at our wedding in Dublin. She looked gorgeous, happy and healthy as we danced (and giggled) to Reflex by Duran Duran. I've brought my friend Martin with me because he, Clare and I spent a very boozy night together in the Camel pub in Victoria, at the start of December. It was such a great night - so much so that Martin had to remind Clare of her stop on the night bus going home.

I loved Clare to bits and I'm gonna miss her. She was a credit to Ann and Sid and my memories of her I will cherish forever. [Joanne Fulham (formerly Dominey)]

Jo x

Julies reading at Clare's Funeral

From: Julie Off!cer
Date: 04-Feb-2007 15:55
Subject: My Transcript
To: ridlydidly

Hello again

I had no intention of speaking on Friday as I knew I would be too upset. I did however want to have something with me though just in case. I thought I could go round individually and read it to everyone. I tried to write something but it was so hard, at the last minute I printed out the dating site thing that I had mentioned to you and ad libbed my "speech" to top and tail it so it's perhaps not word for word but it is very close.

I can't believe how hard it is to read it again. I am so glad she got to read most of it as she was very flattered.

I never thought I would have to stand up here. I still can't believe she's not here, I can still hear her voice, see her smile and the way she'd twirl one strand of hair between two fingers. How she'd laugh so hard no sound came out but tears ran down her cheeks. How she danced, head nodding out the beat while she twisted from side to side, how she'd throw her head back in exasperation, hands out stretched in a silent question. How she'd groan at jokes she really found funny, how excited she got about the littlest things. Her eternal optimism.

Last year I signed her up for a dating website called my single friend.com. I had to have her permission and Clare didn't edit any of what I wrote. It was just supposed to be a summary of Clare, and I had to keep cutting things out but it was still a few paragraphs long. You couldn't sum her up in any less. This is what it said.

"My friend Clare is an amazing person and utterly unique. If I had to use one word to describe her it would be passionate.

She has an undying wanderlust and is incredibly well travelled. She lived in Asia for many years and is madly in love with the Far East. When she decided to return to the UK she couldn't possibly just get on a plane and in true Clare style came back on the trans Siberian railway.

She is an ardent music fan. Whatever your music taste her vast music collection will probably be able to accommodate it. Although she has very eclectic tastes, enjoying a bit of trance in the evening to unwind, her big passion is Rock. She once flew back from Hong Kong for a weekend to see Metallica and is sill in mourning for the closure of the Intrepid fox.

Another thing that gets her fired up is rugby union. She could definitely do with some help on the rules of the game but that doesn't stop her enjoyment of watching. She is particularly taken with Martin Johnson and no doubt fantasies about being tackled by a man that is as broad as he is tall.

Although she's slummed it through India and Tibet, she loves to be pampered and likewise loves to pamper and make someone feel special. She's generous to a fault and deserves someone that can return the attention.

She loves to go out and have a good time. She's a great laugh, fun to be with though sometimes a liability. She's always up for new experiences and anything can happen when she lets her mass of titian hair down. Just don't let her drink tequila or heaven help you.

Her ideal man would be a longhaired rock god who likes to play rugby and travel the globe. If you tick any of these boxes then come and put some passion into her love life ".

She was the person I knew best and the person who knew me best. She was more than a best friend; she was my hero, my soul sister. She made life bearable. I will miss her forever. The world is a much darker place without her.

Stuart and Anne's Reading to Clare

Clare -

Your friends in Hong Kong have sent you a purple Chinese jacket which you are now wearing. In the pockets is sand from your favourite beach there. Hopefully a little bit of this goes with you.

You would be suprised and shocked by the incrediable amount of e-mail traffic you have generated these past few weeks. It was all so sudden and devastating, and they were desperate for news of you.

I hope you know how very deeply they have always loved and respected you, and that your death has left the family that we all became so far away from home and true family reeling.

You were a blessing that has been taken away from us. We are heartbroken - if there is a Paradise - you shall be Queen. You knew how to really live - with friends it was always a celebration. Thank you with all our hearts for enriching our lives.

Clare - this is from me: -

We used to joke that it wasn't possible for us to get together and not get over excited no matter how we tried to calm it down. When I re tell stories of our times together it seems too good to be true, and that I am exaggerating. But with you, it was always that good. You blow me away. I love and admire you for so many wonderful reasons, and to know that you loved me makes everything better. You were the sort of friend that most people only dream of.

And to your mother Ann, thank you so much for bringing Clare into our lives and for being the amazing woman who taught Clare so much and for showing us how to parent.

Sid and Ann we cannot begin to imagine the depth of your loss. Our hearts are with you.

Rosee's Reading to Clare

Clare

You were loved

You were funny

You were charismatic

You were caring, sensitive, loving and sharing

We are blessed to have known you, to have lived with you and to have shared your experiences, life and time on this earth.

Gone but not forgotten

We love you